Your Thoughts on the Ace Pot Puller

[Sir Reel]

I had a similar problem and found a few solutions so that it works great now.
- Contacted Ace and they sent me a new rubber band for the wheel . Way less slippage
- Bought the high speed Ace motor
- Took my scotty plugs apart, both sides, and cut back a few inches of wire and reconnected. They were heavily corroded. Black wires
- Keep my port engine running which has my large house alternator
- I have 5 pounds in the end trap and an 8 pound cannonball in front. So 13 pound's per string plus traps and 400' of leaded line
- Have not tried RC's trick.....yet

 

[kaelc]

Found one! View attachment 124443View attachment 124444

A punch in the junk. That is a good haul. Good thing I'm heading to Poets cove this weekend and have time to get dialed in. Kind of wanted to change my rope for my traps anyways.

 

[Yyjdennis]

I had a similar problem and found a few solutions so that it works great now.
- Contacted Ace and they sent me a new rubber band for the wheel . Way less slippage
- Bought the high speed Ace motor
- Took my scotty plugs apart, both sides, and cut back a few inches of wire and reconnected. They were heavily corroded. Black wires
- Keep my port engine running which has my large house alternator
- I have 5 pounds in the end trap and an 8 pound cannonball in front. So 13 pound's per string plus traps and 400' of leaded line
- Have not tried RC's trick.....yet

A rubber band for the wheel?? Mine didn't come with a rubber band. I'll contact Ace, again, hopefully they'll reply this time.

The more I hear the more I think my battery is the problem. Hopefully the battery upgrade fixes it.

 

[sushieater]

I have no complaints with my ace. I have the older motor and the bulldog handsfree adapter.

When you buy the bulldog, it comes with a new large rubber oring for the main wheel. I highly recommend the bulldog


10lb weight 10' in front of 2 traps, 5lbs in first of the bauer style trap. I used to run 5lbs in each, but the bottom trap doesn't seem to need it. 400' leaded line. It pulls it up handsfree with no help and coils line neatly in the bucket while I watch the traps come up on the sounder. I sometimes need to shove a loop in the bucket that didn't fall in correctly, but don't have help pull unless the line or traps are stuck on the bottom and the 40a fuse blows usually quicker than I can help. 10g wire. When it blows I'll pull on the line by hand until it's untangled on whatever was down there and then turn the puller back on to pull up on it's own again

Some smaller diameter floating rope doesn't work with handsfree adapter for me, but the bungie on the handle trick solves that. I don't normally have to use the bungie trick.

Definitely check your connectors. My scotty plug was corroded when I took it apart and the system was much faster after replacing.

I think you are on the right track with the battery. I fast idle and that keeps my battery reading in the low 12v range. It'll drop much lower if I'm not throttled up a little. Single battery boat. I was worried my last battery didn't have much in the way of reserve amps as it was very old, but a new deepcycle didn't behave any differently.

 

[Yyjdennis]

I have no complaints with my ace. I have the older motor and the bulldog handsfree adapter.

When you buy the bulldog, it comes with a new large rubber oring for the main wheel. I highly recommend the bulldog
View attachment 124445

10lb weight 10' in front of 2 traps, 5lbs in first of the bauer style trap. I used to run 5lbs in each, but the bottom trap doesn't seem to need it. 400' leaded line. It pulls it up handsfree with no help and coils line neatly in the bucket while I watch the traps come up on the sounder. I sometimes need to shove a loop in the bucket that didn't fall in correctly, but don't have help pull unless the line or traps are stuck on the bottom and the 40a fuse blows usually quicker than I can help. 10g wire. When it blows I'll pull on the line by hand until it's untangled on whatever was down there and then turn the puller back on to pull up on it's own again

Some smaller diameter floating rope doesn't work with handsfree adapter for me, but the bungie on the handle trick solves that. I don't normally have to use the bungie trick.

Definitely check your connectors. My scotty plug was corroded when I took it apart and the system was much faster after replacing.

I think you are on the right track with the battery. I fast idle and that keeps my battery reading in the low 12v range. It'll drop much lower if I'm not throttled up a little. Single battery boat. I was worried my last battery didn't have much in the way of reserve amps as it was very old, but a new deepcycle didn't behave any differently.

I either lost or didn't get that rubber ring when I installed my Bulldog. I'm going to contact Ace and see if they'll send me one. Thanks for the info.

 

[Sir Reel]

I fixed the video above of the the Ace in motion. Forgot to make public

 

[seachicken]

I either lost or didn't get that rubber ring when I installed my Bulldog. I'm going to contact Ace and see if they'll send me one. Thanks for the info.

Where are you located? If you're close to Nanaimo just drop in, they were very accommodating to me. In that picture by @sushieater you can see the aluminum bushing, it used to be plastic. I stopped in and they gave me a new pulley and aluminum bushing.

 

[seachicken]

I had a similar problem and found a few solutions so that it works great now.
- Contacted Ace and they sent me a new rubber band for the wheel . Way less slippage
- Bought the high speed Ace motor
- Took my scotty plugs apart, both sides, and cut back a few inches of wire and reconnected. They were heavily corroded. Black wires
- Keep my port engine running which has my large house alternator
- I have 5 pounds in the end trap and an 8 pound cannonball in front. So 13 pound's per string plus traps and 400' of leaded line
- Have not tried RC's trick.....yet

What mount are you running? Is it stainless?

 

[scott craven]

Unless you're fishing in an area with strong currents, it sounds like you're using too much weight?
Saanich inlet for example has virtually no current.

 

[Sir Reel]

What mount are you running? Is it stainless?

Its just a plastic Scotty downrigger mount on a stainless backing plate. Other wise the Ace would rub on the fiberglass

 

[Sir Reel]

I either lost or didn't get that rubber ring when I installed my Bulldog. I'm going to contact Ace and see if they'll send me one. Thanks for the info.

You should have had the rubber O ring with original purchase along with the washers for spacers. Its an option depending on your rope size and type. Ace came out with an updated O-ring with tends to grab better. They sent me one for free.
I have 2 types of leaded line. They look the same but one definitely grabs better

 

[M1SF1T]

The Ace just works OK for me. I have commercial traps and put a 5# weight on about 400' of line. It seems to struggle with a single trap, motor gets super hot. I blew the fuse to the plug once last year. I never run 2 traps on a string because I'm worried it would be too much for it. I have 2 batteries and run my mains while pulling, 2x35 amp alternators I think...

Maybe a wiring upgrade to the plugs is in order? 14 ga right now, was thinking of fishing 10 ga through to support the new to me Scotty high performance riggers I picked up this year.

 

[sushieater]

The Ace just works OK for me. I have commercial traps and put a 5# weight on about 400' of line. It seems to struggle with a single trap, motor gets super hot. I blew the fuse to the plug once last year. I never run 2 traps on a string because I'm worried it would be too much for it. I have 2 batteries and run my mains while pulling, 2x35 amp alternators I think...

Maybe a wiring upgrade to the plugs is in order? 14 ga right now, was thinking of fishing 10 ga through to support the new to me Scotty high performance riggers I picked up this year.

Ace's recommendation is
12ga <15'
10ga >15'

Frequently Asked Questions - Ace Line Hauler

acelinehauler.com

 

[seachicken]

Its just a plastic Scotty downrigger mount on a stainless backing plate. Other wise the Ace would rub on the fiberglass

View attachment 124446

Oh yes, I can see how it would contact and rub.

 

[Copper Moon]

Where are you located? If you're close to Nanaimo just drop in, they were very accommodating to me. In that picture by @sushieater you can see the aluminum bushing, it used to be plastic. I stopped in and they gave me a new pulley and aluminum bushing.

Be aware that they just moved. Now just off Boban Drive. Best to call for directions.

I run 2 commercial traps, each with 6+ lbs of weight. Separate house battery works for me. I have a longer run with 10 gauge. I've had issues with plug corrosion too.

 

[M1SF1T]

Ace's recommendation is
12ga <15'
10ga >15'

Frequently Asked Questions - Ace Line Hauler

acelinehauler.com

View attachment 124451

Thanks for that. My run is pretty short I think, tough to know how much cable runs under the deck, but can't imagine even 10'.

Voltage drop maybe in the neighborhood of 10-15%... would probably be halved if I went to 10 GA?

 

[Samnjoe]

I have one of the originals. At least 14 years old. Still running strong. 600 foot line, 2 round commercial traps, 12 pound ball 20 feet above the 2nd trap, 2 large house batteries.
I leave the twins idling. No problem.